Eagles Swap Lewis For Emmanuel Acho

After speculation that backup running back Dion Lewis was on the trade block, the Eagles finally completed a deal that shipped him to the Browns. This trade continues the Philadelphia-Cleveland pipeline, which has moved players including Sheldon Brown, Chris Gocong, Jerome Harrison, and Dimitri Patterson.

The Eagles received inside linebacker Emmanuel Acho in exchange for Lewis. A 6th round pick in 2012, Acho never saw the field due to a torn meniscus from which he is now fully recovered. Coming out of Texas, Acho was regarded as an average athlete with excellent intelligence and work ethic. He joins a crowded Eagles inside linebacker group. Behind projected starters DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks, veterans Jamar Chaney, Casey Matthews, and Jason Phillips will be vying for roster spots.

Lewis is a more talented player than Acho, so the only reason the Eagles would have made this trade is because Chip Kelly didn’t envision Lewis making the final roster. Therefore, Eagles fans can assume that Kelly either really likes Chris Polk as a third running back or that he wants to draft his own developmental prospect. I’m betting on the latter.